The purpose of this study was to examine the history of the Department of Music at Augustana College, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from the time it first began offering courses in music in 1918 through 1973. The Department of Music began offering the bachelor of music and public school music course in 1921, a major in music as part of the bachelor of arts degree in 1925, and the bachelor of science degree in 1954.

The Prologue offers a brief overview of Norwegian immigration to the United States and their venture into higher education, as well as a review of literature related to music in Lutheran colleges. Chapter One offers a concise history of the founding of Augustana College and follows its westward movement to South Dakota. Chapter Two deals with the early years of the department, and Chapter Three chronicles the founding of the Augustana Choir (1921) and Orchestra (1922). Chapter Four notes the department during the depression era including the founding of the Augustana Band (1931). Chapter Five consists of a discussion of the department during the years following World War II, while Chapters Six and Seven offer a glimpse of the department during the college's centennial era (1960) and the late 1960s. Chapter Eight notes the building of the new Humanities Center that gave the music department a new home, and discusses the department's accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music. The Epilogue offers a glimpse of the department from 1973 to the present. An Appendix contains information about the founding of Lutheran Colleges in the United States, Curriculum for the Course in Music (1919), Curriculum for the Bachelor of Music Degree (1921), Curriculum for the Public School Music Degree (1921), Concert Tour Programs of the Augustana Choir, Guest Conductors and Soloists for the Augustana Band Festival, department chair J. Earl Lee's report on recommendations for needs of space in a new music facility, and a list of music department faculty from 1921--1973.

This dissertation provides a glimpse of the department and the individuals who provided leadership and artistic influence through the decades.